Lamp assembly

ABSTRACT

A desk lamp having an upright columnar member secured at one end to a base and on which a pair of parallel arms for supporting an incandescent light bulb housing and reflector are pivotally mounted. The combined weight of the lamp, reflector and supporting arms is counterbalanced by a spring contained within the column, and the parallel arms permit vertical adjustment of the lamp over a range of heights. The socket for the bulb is contained within a cup which also houses a dimmer circuit, the control for which depends from the bottom of the cup. A reflector secured to the cup is shaped and positioned relative to the bulb so as to intercept and deflect light downwardly and forwardly over a generally semi-circular area in front of the base. The combination of vertical adjustibility, light intensity control and reflector shape provides a wide range of light intensity over a working zone of adjustable area.

United States Patent 1 Stephans 1 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] LAMP ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: J. Larry Stephens, 2080 Redding Rd., Cambria Heights, N.Y. 06430 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 81,081

[52] US. Cl ..240/67, 240/73 3], 240/81 R, 1 240/103 [51] Int. Cl ..F21v 21/14 [58] Field of Search ..240/67, 71,103, 36, 73, 81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,650 11/1949 Landrum ..240/67 X 2,489,650 11/1949 Landrum ..240/67 X 2,911,525 11/1959 Strorn ..240/73 13.]

Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Wintercorn Att0rneySpencer E. Olson [57] ABSTRACT A desk lamp having an upright columnar member secured at one end to a base and on which a pair of parallel arms for supporting an incandescent light bulb housing and reflector are pivotally mounted. The combined weight of the lamp, reflector and supporting arms is counterbalanced by a spring contained within the column, and the parallel arms permit vertical adjustment of the lamp over a range of heights. The 7 socket for the bulb is contained within a cup which also houses a dimmer circuit, the control for which depends from the bottom of the cup. A reflector secured to the cup is shaped and positioned relative to the bulb so as to intercept and deflect light downwardly and forwardly over a generally semi-circular area in front of the base. The combination of vertical adjustibility, light intensity control and reflector shape provides a wide range of light intensity over a working zone of adjustable area.

21 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 30 i975 SHEET 10F 4 INVENTOR J. LARRY STEPHANS \%V../ 5 (/"%0 AT IORNEY PATENTEnJmo I973 3,714,418

SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR J. LARRY STEPHANS ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 30 I973 SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTOR J. LARRY STEPHANS 4&4-

ATTORNEY 32 in El PATENTEDJAHDIBTS 3,714,418 SHEET 0F 4 INVENTOR 94a J. LARRY STEPHANS ATTORNEY LAMP ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to lamp assemblies of the type including an incandescent bulb and associated light reflector and a support therefor for producing a light pattern over a work area, and more particularly to a lamp for producing a light pattern of predetermined shape and of adjustable size and intensity. The invention will be described as embodied in a desk lamp, but its features are readily applicable to other forms of light fixtures.

Light for desk work is generally provided by a lamp supported or suspended at approximately eye level, and which is placed to one side and to the front of the person seated at the desk. Known desk lamps generally consist of an incandescent lamp surrounded by a diffusing globe or shade, which may or may not be open at the top and bottom. The diffusing shade spreads the light in all directions, and while this results in illuminating the area surrounding the luminaire, it has the disadvantage of often providing insufficient light over the entire work area. Lamps of this type are usually of fixed height so as to illuminate a fixed area at a fixed brightness level, and being at approximately eye level cause undesirable harmful glare in spite of careful design of the diffuser or shade.

With some types of desk work it may be desirable to brightly illuminate a relatively small area, and for other work it may be necessary to illuminate a larger area at the same or different, but yet sufficient intensity. In order to provide sufficient light over a range of sizes of work area from a bulb of given wattage, it is essential that a maximum amount of the available light be directed onto the work area of the desk. This objective is partially solved by a refractor tilted toward the work area in the lamp disclosed in Wince U.S. Pat. No. 3,413,461, but with this construction the size of the work area and the intensity of the illumination are fixed.

The wide variety of so-called high intensity lamps marketed in recent years are adjustable in height so as to change the size of the work area they illuminate, as well as the intensity of the light on the work area, but with this type of adjustability the center of the circular area illuminated shifts in position relative to the base upon vertical adjustment, and, of course, such lamps provide little surround lighting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a lamp which efficiently utilizes the light available from a standard incandescent bulb by directing most of it onto the work area while still providing sufficient light to illuminate the surrounding area.

Another object is to provide a lamp which directs light primarily over the work area for optimum utilization of available light, and which is vertically adjustable to vary the size of the illuminated area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lamp having in addition to the foregoing features the capability of adjusting the intensity of the light delivered by the bulb.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lamp assembly adapted for combination with a separable base to form a free-standing desk lamp, or to be attached to a wall or other vertical support to provide an adjustable wall or floor lamp.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a lamp having the foregoing features which is compact, attractive, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly, the foregoing objects are achieved by an as- I sembly consisting essentially of a hollow upright columnar member adapted to be secured at one end to a base and on which a pair of parallel arms for supporting a bulb and socket and reflector assembly are pivotally mounted. The reflector is readily detachable from the bulb and socket sub-assembly, and the upright member is easily attached to the base, thereby allowing the lamp to be shipped in a relatively small and compact package as three separate sub-assemblies. The means for securing the reflector to the bulb and socket subassembly, and the upright member to the base, are sufficiently simple that they can be assembled, without tool, by the customer. The combined weight of the bulb and reflector assembly and the supporting arms is counterbalanced by a spring contained within the hollow upright member, whereby the lamp and reflector remain in the vertical position to which it is adjusted.

The socket for the bulb, which is of the base-down type, is' contained within a cup which also houses a dimmer circuit, the control for which projects from the bottom of the cup for convenient access. A reflector, a portion of which has a parabolic contour, is pivotally secured to the cup for ease in changing the bulb. The reflector is otherwise shaped and positioned with respect to the bulb to intercept and deflect light downwardly and forwardly over a generally semi-circular area in front of the base thereby to efficiently use the available light. Electrical connection is made to the lamp and dimmer circuit through rotatably slidable contacts to eliminate bending of the electric cord as the vertical position of the lamp is adjusted. The combination of vertical adjustability (over a range of from 8 inches to 16 inches above'the tabletop in the preferred embodiment), light intensity control, and reflector shape provides a wide range of light intensity over a working zone of adjustable area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features of the invention, and a better understanding of its construction and operation will be had from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general appearance of the lamp assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial front elevation view of the lamp with the bulb and reflector in its uppermost position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the reflector;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the reflector;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the vertical supporting column of the lamp assembly;

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the inner end of one of the supporting arms for the bulb and reflector assembly, taken along line 5A-5A of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5B is a top view of means for detachably securing the reflector to the socket and bulb sub-assembly;

FIG. 6 is an elevation cross-sectional view of the socket and bulb sub-assembly taken along a diameter of the socket-enclosing cup;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are plan views of connecting elements through which electrical connection is made to the lamp; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, greatly enlarged, illustrating the manner in which electrical connection is made to the lamp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, which illustrates the invention embodied in a desk lamp, the lamp is supported on a base consisting of a flat plate 10 of generally trapezoidal shape, curved at its front edge for aesthetic purposes and to provide stability to the assembly, particularly when the lamp holder and reflector assembly are in the' lowermost position. Although the size, shape and material of base 10 is subject to a variety of choices, (provided, of course, that it is sufficiently heavy and shaped to stably support the lamp) in the preferred embodiment the base is formed of )6 inch steel plate approximately 4 inches wide at the rear edge, approximately 9 y, inches wide at its widest point and having an overall front-to-back dimension of about 7 inches. This construction provides a sturdy support for the lamp assembly, causes very little interference to the work area in front of the lamp, and requires a minimum of space for packaging.

The lamp socket and reflector are adjustably supported on an upright tubular member 12, preferably of rectangular cross-section as shown, which is designed for easy but secure attachment at its lower end to the base 10 (by means to be described). The hollow column 12 is closed on all four sides for slightly more than half its height, the remainder of the height having an open front wall to accomodate a pair of arms 14 and 16 for supporting a lamp assembly 18. In a typical desk lamp the column 12 is approximately 12 inches tall, with the open front wallthereof extending down approximately inches from the upper end. The arms 14 and 16 are pivotally supported between the side walls of the column, and extend through the open front wall to allow vertical adjustability of the lamp and reflector sub-assembly.

The lamp assembly 18 includes a socket and dimmer control circuitry contained within a conical cup 20 from the lower end of which extends a combined on-off switch and control knob 22. A standard base-down incandescent bulb 24 is threaded into the socket and projects upwardly from the open upper end of cup 20. The outer ends of arms 14 and 16 are pivotally attached to a U-shaped bracket 26 extending radially from the cup and forming an integral part of the lamp sub-assembly.

An important feature of the lamp which contributes to the efflcient utilization of the light available from bulb 24 is the reflector 28, particularly its shape, its position relative to the bulb, and the manner in which it is secured to the lamp sub-assembly. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reflector is made of opaque material, such as metal, although for ease of manufacture, weight reduction and improvement in appearance, it is preferably formed of a suitable plastic material and is provided with a highly reflective inside surface. The

reflector is generally conical in shape, having a relatively small diameter at its upper end and flaring downwardly and rather sharply outwardly toward its lower edge. In a preferred embodiment the smaller diameter is 3 /5 inches, the larger diameter (if not modified in the manner shown and to be described) is approximately 13 inches, and the overall height is 4 inches.

The shape departs from conical in the respect that at the rear (as related to the base 10) the flare is interrupted at line 28a, with the surface below line 28a being essentially perpendicular to the plane defined by the lower edge. This vertically-oriented surface at its highest point is approximately one-half the overall height of the reflector and intersects and smoothly blends into the flared conical surface along the plane defined by line 28a, which plane intersects the plane defined by the lower edge slightly forwardly of the vertical center line of the otherwise conical reflector. The angle of incline of the plane defined by line 28a is so related to the curvature of the flared conical reflector that the curvature of the interior of the verticallyoriented surface is essentially parabolic.

The reflector 28 is secured to the lamp and housing subassembly (by means to be described) with its vertical center-line coincident with the center line of bulb 24, and is so dimensioned that the centerline of the bulb falls essentially at the focus of the parabolic surface. Accordingly, the parabolic surface intercepts light rays from the bulb over an arc of approximately and redirects them forwardly-in the same direction as the rays directly emitted from the front area of the bulb-and thence downwardly onto the work zone from the conical portion of the reflector, for maximum eye protection and light concentration on the area of the work surface forwardly of the base. The parabolic surface, coacting with the conical surface, achieves an evenly dispersed light intensity, substantially all directed over a generally semi-circular working zone forwardly of the base, and of greater brightness, for a bulb of given wattage, than is obtainable with prior art luminaires known to applicant.

The reflector is detachably and pivotally secured at a single point at the upper end of the U-shaped bracket 26 by a mounting bracket extending inwardly from its vertically-oriented surface, the details of which will be more evident later from the description of FIGS. 3 and 4. Suffice it here to note that the pivotal attachment permits the reflector to be tipped. up to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 for easy access for bulb replacement without detachment of the reflector from the luminaire, or to enable the lamp to be used for full room illumination, while at the same time being easily attached and detached to permit it to be packaged unassembled-for economy of packaging-for assembly by the customer.

From the description thus far, it has been seen that the desk lamp embodiment of the invention comprises three major separable parts: a base, a supporting column and bulb and socket assembly, and a reflector. The base and column together require relatively little packing space, with the result that a carton only slightly larger than necessary to contain the reflector is required for shipment of the complete lamp. It will be evident, too, that since the column is detachable from the base, it is adapted to be otherwise supported, as by securing it with a suitable fastening means to a wall, or to a suitable self-supporting standard to fashion a floor lamp.

Turning now to FIG. 5, the details of construction of the column 12 will be described. As was noted earlier, column 12 is adapted to be secured at its lower end to the base 10. This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by an upstanding post 30 secured to the base near the rear edge thereof by a screw 32 threaded into a central opening in its lower end. The post is slotted for about half its length, for example, by saw-cuts at 90 to each other, one of which is visible at 34, to give it springiness, and is provided with a circumferential groove 36 near its upper end. The post would normally be factory-assembled with the base 10. The column 12 is secured to the post by coaction therewith of a boxlike swivel and lock member 38, which may be formed of a suitable metal such as aluminum, zinc or steel, or of nylon, dimensioned to fit snugly within the lower end of the column and secured therein by a single screw 40. The bottom wall of member 38 has an opening 42 therein of a diameter to snugly fit the post, and the upper wall has an aligned opening 44 of a diameter equal to the diameter of the bottom of the groove 36 in the post so as to compress the upper end of the post and firmly engage the groove as the column is pressed down over the post. The groove preferably has square sides to make difficult the removal of the column, once assembled, but should the customer find it desirable or necessary to remove the base, he can do so by removing either of screws 32 or 40. The important point is that the customer can securely assemble the column to the base-without tools-simply by pushing the column down over the post. This mode of attachment has the further virtue of allowing the column to be rotated about the post, relative to the base, through an angle of l8090 to either side of the normal position shown in FIG. 1; the shape, dimensions and weight of the base described earlier allows this to be done without affecting the stability of the lamp, even when the luminaire is in its lowermost position. To facilitate such rotation, a spring washer 46 is placed between member 38 and base 10, and a pair of stops, one of which is visible at 100 in FIG. 1, are provided on the base to limit the rotation to 180".

As was noted earlier, the arms 14 and 16 are pivotally supported between the sidewalls of column 12 and extend through the open front wall to allow vertical adjustability of the luminaire assembly. More specifically, arm 16, of the same length as arm 14, is pivoted at a point 50 above and to the rear of pivot point 48 with its inner end extending toward the rear wall of the column. It will be observed that with this location of the pivot points, the arms may be moved parallel to each other and when in their vertical position (the uppermost position of the lamp and reflector assembly) they are contained within column 12, one behind the other, to give the general appearance of being a vertical extension of the column, as shown in FIG. 2.

Arms 14 and 16 are hollow, and preferably of square cross-section, having an outside dimension corresponding to the width between the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of column 12 so as to be given lateral stability by the sidewalls. The outer ends of arms 14 and 16 are pivotally secured to the U-shaped bracket 26 of the lamp assembly at points 54 and 56, respectively, located in the same relative position to each other as pivot points 48 and 50, whereby the arms are kept parallel to each other as the height of the lamp assembly is adjusted by pivoting them about points 48 and 50.

The weight of the lamp and reflector assembly, and of arms 14 and 16, is counterbalanced by a compression spring 58 mounted inside the column and attached to a hook 60 formed on member 38 and at the other end to a hook 14a formed on the inner end of arm 14. The spring is attached to hook 140 by a loop of wire 62 of hairpin shape, the free ends of which extend through the spring 58 and are hooked over its lowermost convolution, and attachment is made to the hook on the swivel member by a similar hairpin-shaped wire 64, the free ends of which engage the uppermost convolution of spring 58. The attaching wires 62 and 64 and the spring itself are so dimensioned that when the arms 14 and 16 are in their vertical position the spring 58 is subjected to little or no compression, whereas when the luminaire is adjusted to a lower position the spring is increasingly compressed. pressed. The spring has a modulus to maintain the lamp assembly at any height to which it may be adjusted between a position where arms 14 and 16 are substantially parallel to the base 10 (at which the moment of force causing compression of spring 58 is greatest) to a position where the arms 14 and 16 are vertical.

For greater lateral stability, and to help insure that the lamp assembly stays at the height to which it is adjusted, arm 16 is provided with a brake which frictionally engages the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of column 12. As shown in the fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 5A, the brake consists of a compression spring 66 with flattened ends mounted within the hollow arm at a point outwardly from pivot point 50 and arranged to exert force outwardly through circular openings 68 in the sidewalls of arm 16. When assembled within column 12, the flat ends of the spring press against the inner walls of the column to provide a controlled amount of friction between the arm and the column to brake the lamp assembly at the position to which it is adjusted.

The lamp cord 70 through which the bulb is energized is brought through a suitable grommet 72 secured in an opening in the rear wall of the column 12 near its lower end. The cord extends upwardly within the column (there being ample clearance between the walls and spring 58) and into the inner end of hollow arm 14, past pivot point 48, and to pivot point 54 where its two conductors are respectively connected to the hot" and grounded sides of the lamp circuit through a novel rotatable contact assembly (to be described in greater detail below). Thus, the cord is completely concealed within the assembly and is subjected to only limited bending at the point of entry into arm 14 as the height of the lamp is adjusted.

The socket for the single incandescent bulb, and dimmer control circuitry therefor, are housed in the conical cup-shaped member 20 to which the U-shaped bracket 26 mentioned earlier is secured, as by spot welding or being formed integrally therewith by casting or molding. As best seen in FIG. 6, the socket 70 for the lamp 24 is supported on a circular disc 72 formed of insulating material in which there is a central opening to provide access to the hot terminal of the filament of the lamp, and a series of vent holes near the outer periphery. The insulating disc 72 is retained in position within the cup by a Z-shaped bracket 74 formed of flat metal strip stock shaped to have a first segment 74a disposed generally parallel to the'front wall of cup 20, a second segment 74b disposed parallel to disc 72 and the bottom of the cup, and a third portion 740 which depends from portion 74b and in which there is an opening to receive a screw 76 for securing the bracket to a threaded hole in cup 20. The upper free end of portion 74a is received by and secured in a notch in the periphery of disc 72. Diametrically opposite from the point of attachment of the bracket to the disc, the latter is notched to receive a complementary notch in a strip 78 of insulating material which is disposed generally parallel to the wall of the cup, in contact therewith at its upper end, and extending through an opening 74d in bracket 74 at its lower end.

The cup 20 has a generally rectangular opening in the rear wall, generally straddling the strip 78 and extending from point 20a to point 20b. The sidewalls of U-shaped bracket 26 are spaced apart by the width of the opening and extend radially from the periphery of cup 20. Extending from the upper end of bracket 26, as an integral part thereof, are a pair upwardly extending extensions or cars, one of which is shown at 26a, having openings 26b for receiving a suitable fastener 80 for detachably, and pivotally, securing the reflector 28 to the lamp socket assembly. To give the extension 26a greater rigidity and to preclude entry of foreign objects into the open upper end of column 12, especially the region at which electrical connection is made to the lamp circuitry, the space between the two walls of the extension is closed by a septum 26c. This septum is joined at its inner end to a flat strip 82 which lies between and is joined to the sidewalls of U-shaped bracket 26 and extends downwardly and rearwardly from the upper rim of cup 20, terminating at a point just above pivot point 54. The flat strip 82, together with the sidewalls of bracket 26, and arms 14 and 16 prevent access to the rotatable sliding connection of the cord 50 to the lamp circuit at pivot point 54.

Referring now to FIG. 7, electrical connection between the lamp cord 70 and the bulb and dimmer circuitry is made through a rotatable sliding contact arrangement at pivot point 54, namely, the point at which the outer end of arm 14 is attached to U-shaped bracket 26. The two conductors of cord 70 each have a lug 86 crimped to the end thereof, the lugs being cupshaped as shown and having a circular opening sufficiently large to receive an insulating bobbin 88 which encloses rivet 54. The conductor that is to be connected to the grounded side of the lamp circuit is insulated from arm 14 (which may be made of either metal or an insulating material, such as plastic) and from a rivet 54 by bobbin 88, formed from Teflon, for example, and by an annular washer 90, also formed of Teflon and having an inner diameter to fit over bobbin 88. Washer 90 is disposed between the lug 86 and the inner surface of one wall of arm 14. The bobbin and a second washer 92 similarly support the lug on the other conductor and insulates it from the inner surface of the opposite side wall of arm 14. It will be seen that this construction provides electrical connection of the two conductors of the lamp cord to the separated pair of cupshaped lugs which is unaffected by the pivoting of arm 14 relative to bracket 26 about the rivet 54. The two conductors are amply insulated from each other, from the sidewalls of bracket 26 and from other metallic portions of the lamp assembly and introduce no electrical hazard.

Electrical connection between the just-described cup-shaped contact and the lamp circuitry is made through a pair of connecting strips 94 and 96 secured, as by riveting, to opposite side of insulating strip 78. Connecting strip 94, the details of which are best seen in FIG. 6A, is formed from thin sheet metal and has a U-shaped spade 94a at its downwardly extending end which is received between the central rim of bobbin 88 and the convex surface of the cup-shaped lug 86 on the "hot conductor, and at its other end is provided with a spring contact 94b dimensioned and arranged to extend through the central opening in insulating disc 72 to firmly engage the central electrode of the bulb 24. The connecting strip 96, also formed from sheet metal and shown in detail in FIG. 6B, is positioned somewhat lower on strip 78 and has a shorter spade 96a which engages the cup-shaped lug on the other conductor and is held thereagainst by the central rim of the bobbin 88. The upper end 96b of the connector, which is formed with a tab 96c perpendicular to the plane of the drawing is connected directly (i.e., without other wiring) to one terminal 98 of a potentiometer 100, which includes an on-off switch controlled by knob 22. The shaft 104 of the potentiometer extends through an opening in the horizontal portion 74b of bracket 74 and is secured thereto by a nut 106. Electrical connection is made from the contacts of switch to a soldering lug mounted on the underside of insulating disc 72 which, in turn, is connected to the lamp socket 70. It will be noted that the on-off switch and dimmer control circuitry are all contained within the enclosure generally defined by bracket 74 and insulating disc 72 and that there is an absolute minimum of wiring in the lamp circuit. It will be seen, too, that the socket and lamp circuitry, being held within cup 20 only by screw 76, can be removed from the cup for repair or replacement simply by removal of the control knob and screw 76.

The diameter of the flange 22a on the inner end of control knob 22 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the lower end of cup 20 so as to leave an annular clearance gap between the flange 22a and the cup for the intake of air for cooling the dimmer control circuitry and the incandescent bulb. The components contained in the cup are arranged to allow space for the flow of air therearound, which, together with the circumferentially-located apertures in disc 72 and a honeycomb diffuser 28b fitted in the top of reflector 28, creates a chimney effect causing air to flow upwardly over the dimmer, circuit and the bulb and out the top of the reflector, as indicated by the arrows. The diffuser 28b is preferably formed of aluminum honeycomb having in. hexagonal cells with walls 0.002 in. thick, and having an axial thickness of onehalf in. The aluminum honeycomb promotes the dissipation of heat generated by the dimmer circuit and bulb in that it affords a large area for the transfer of heat from the moving air to the diffuser. Moreover, by using honeycomb having the indicated dimensions, unless one is directly over the reflector, he does not see the bulb; that is, the honeycomb effectively shields glare from the bulb, yet permits a certain amount of light to be directed upwardly from the reflector.

Finally, as best seen in FIGS. and 6, the reflector 28 is pivotally secured to the upwardly extending ears 26a of the U-shaped bracket 26 by means of a reflector supporting bracket 28c secured, as by riveting, to the inner surface of the vertically-oriented parabolic surface of the reflector. The bracket 260 is bifurcated, the members thereof being spaced to be relatively snugly received between the upwardly extending ears of the U-shaped bracket. The members of bracket 280 have openings therein aligned with the openings 26b in ears 26a, the reflector bracket being joined to the cars by a flexible U-shaped spring member 80 (FIG. 58) having integral pins 80a and 80b which are inserted into the aligned openings. Thus, the reflector is pivotable about pins 80a and 80b, and may be removed from the lamp simply by squeezing the arms of spring 80 together to disengage the pins. The spring 80, which may be formed of metal or plastic, is preferably factory-assembled in bracket 28c so as to be conveniently accessible to the customer for attachment to the lamp.

I claim:

1. A lamp assembly comprising, in combination,

a hollow columnar member adapted to be supported in vertical position,

a cup-shaped housing having a lamp socket supported therein to receive and support a base-down bulb in a vertical position,

a U-shaped bracket integrally joined to and radially extending from said housing, and

a pair of parallel arms one end of both of which extend into said columnar member and are pivotally secured to said columnar member near said one end, and each is pivotally joined at its other end to said U-shaped bracket, for adjustably supporting said housing over a range of heights while continuously maintaining said housing vertically oriented.

2. A lamp assembly according to claim 1 further including spring means anchored within said columnar member and connected to the said one end of one of said arms, said spring means being dimensioned and arranged to counterbalance at least the combined weight of said housing and said arms and thereby support said housing at any height within said range to which it is adjusted.

3. A lamp assembly comprising, in combination,

a hollow columnar member adapted to be supported in a vertical position,

a cup-shaped housing having a lamp socket supported therein for receiving a base-down light bulb,

a U-shaped bracket integrally joined to and radially extending from said housing,

a pair of spaced apart parallel arms one end of both of which extend into said columnar member and are pivotally secured to said columnar member near said one end, and each is pivotally joined at its other end to said u-shaped bracket, and

spring means anchored within said columnar member and connected to the said one end of one of said arms, said spring means being dimensioned and arranged to counterbalance at least the combined weight of said housing and said arms and thereby support said housing at any height to which it is adjusted,

said arms being arranged to be adjusted over a range from a lowermost position at which said arms are substantially perpendicular to said columnar member to an uppermost position at which said arms are partially contained within said columnar member and extend upwardly therefrom to form a vertical extension of said columnar member.

4. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein said columnar member is of rectangular cross-section, one of the narrow walls thereof being open at the upper end thereof to receive said one end of said arms.

5. A lamp assembly according to claim 4 further including a compression spring extending through at least one of said arms at a point outwardly of the point at which it is pivoted to said columnar member and engaging the inner surfaces of the wide walls of said columnar member for braking said housing at the height to which it is adjusted.

6. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 further including a flat base having an upstanding post secured thereto, and wherein said columnar member is provided at its lower end with a member having an opening therein for receiving and engaging said post for detachably securing said base to the lower end of said columnar member.

7. A lamp assembly according to claim 6 wherein said base is of generally trapezoidal shape and said post is secured near the narrower edge thereof, said columnar member being assembled with said base by pushing the lower end of said columnar member downwardly over said post.

8. A lamp assembly according to claim 6 wherein said post is of circular cross-section and the opening in said member in the lower end of said columnar member is circular whereby said columnar member is adapted for rotation about a vertical axis concentric with the axis of said post.

9. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 further including a downwardly and outwardly flared reflector pivotally and detachably secured at a point at the lower edge thereof to said U-shaped bracket.

10. A lamp assembly according to claim 9 wherein said reflector is dimensioned to be supported substantially concentrically with said lamp socket.

11. A lamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein a portion of the peripheral surface of said reflector is vertically-oriented and of parabolic shape, and the focus of said parabolic surface lies substantially on the vertical axis of said lamp socket.

12. A lamp assembly according to claim 11 wherein said point of attachment of said reflector to said U- shaped bracket is positioned centrally of the lower edge of said vertically-oriented portion.

13. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein said housing further contains a switch and dimmer circuitry supported below said lamp socket, and a common control knob for said switch and dimmer circuitry depending from the lower end of said housing.

14. A lamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein said housing further contains a switch and dimmer circuitry supported below said lamp socket and arranged to define a passage between said housing and said dimmer circuitry for the flow of air, a common control knob for said switch and dimmer circuitry of smaller diameter then the diameter of the lower end of said housing depending from the lower end of said housing and therewith defining an annular gap for the entry of air, and wherein the upper end of said reflector is closed by honeycomb material the cells of which are vertically oriented so as to permit flow of air therethrough, whereby said dimmer circuitry and bulb are adapted to be cooled by air flowing upwardly through said annular gap, over said dimmer circuitry and bulb, and out through the top of said reflector.

15. A lamp assembly according to claim 14 wherein said honeycomb material is metal and has cell dimensions and a thickness to shield glare from an illuminated bulb in said socket.

16. A lamp assembly according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said parallel arms is hollow and further including a lamp cord extending through said columnar member and said hollow arm to the pivotal connection of said one arm to said U-shaped bracket, and a pair of mutually insulated conductive members connected to said lamp socket and to said dimmer circuitry and slidably engaging respective conductors of said lamp cord at the aforesaid pivotal connection.

17. A lamp assembly comprising, in combination,

a hollow columnar member adapted to be supported in a vertical position,

a cup-shaped housing containing a lamp socket disposed to receive and position a base-down light bulb in a vertical position,

a U-shaped bracket integrally joined to and radially extending from said housing, and

a pair of spaced apart parallel arms one end of both of which extend into said columnar member and are pivotally secured to said columnar member near said one end, and each is pivoted at its other end to said U-shaped bracket, said arms being arranged to be adjusted over a range of heights, while maintaining said housing vertically oriented, from a lowermost position at which said arms are substantially perpendicular to said columnar member to an uppermost position at which said arms are partially contained within said columnar member and extend upwardly therefrom to form a vertical extension of said columnar member. 18. A lamp assembly according to claim 17 further including spring means anchored within said columnar member and connected to the said one end. of one of said arms, said spring means being dimensioned and arranged to support said housing at any height within said range to which it is adjusted, and a compression spring extending through at least one of said arms at a point outwardly of the point at which it is pivoted to said columnar member and engaging inner surfaces of said columnar member for braking said housing at the height to which it is adjusted. 19. A lamp assembly according to claim 17 further including a downwardly and outwardly flared reflector pivotally and detachably secured at the lower edge thereof to said U-shaped bracket.

0. A lamp assem ly accordmg to claim 17 wherein said housing further contains a switch and dimmer circuitry supported below said lamp socket, and a common control knob for said switch and dimmer circuitry depending from the lower end of said housing.

21. A lamp assembly according to claim 19 further including a flat base having an upstanding post secured thereto, and wherein said columnar member is provided at its lower end with a member having an opening therein for receiving and engaging said post for detachably securing said base to the lower end of said columnar member. 

1. A lamp assembly comprising, in combination, a hollow columnar member adapted to be supported in vertical position, a cup-shaped housing having a lamp socket supported therein to receive and support a base-down bulb in a vertical position, a U-shaped bracket integrally joined to and radially extending from said housing, and a pair of parallel arms one end of both of which extend into said columnar member and are pivotally secured to said columnar member near said one end, and each is pivotally joined at its other end to said U-shaped bracket, for adjustably supporting said housing over a range of heights while continuously maintaining said housing vertically oriented.
 1. A lamp assembly comprising, in combination, a hollow columnar member adapted to be supported in vertical position, a cup-shaped housing having a lamp socket supported therein to receive and support a base-down bulb in a vertical position, a U-shaped bracket integrally joined to and radially extending from said housing, and a pair of parallel arms one end of both of which extend into said columnar member and are pivotally secured to said columnar member near said one end, and each is pivotally joined at its other end to said U-shaped bracket, for adjustably supporting said housing over a range of heights while continuously maintaining said housing vertically oriented.
 2. A lamp assembly according to claim 1 further including spring means anchored within said columnar member and connected to the said one end of one of said arms, said spring means being dimensioned and arranged to counterbalance at least the combined weight of said housing and said arms and thereby support said housing at any height within said range to which it is adjusted.
 3. A lamp assembly comprising, in combination, a hollow columnar member adapted to be supported in a vertical position, a cup-shaped housing having a lamp socket supported therein for receiving a base-down light bulb, a U-shaped bracket integrally joined to and radially extending from said housing, a pair of spaced apart parallel arms one end of both of which extend into said columnar member and are pivotally secured to said columnar member near said one end, and each is pivotally joined at its other end to said u-shaped bracket, and spring means anchored within said columnar member and connected to the said one end of one of said arms, said spring means being dimensioned and arranged to counterbalance at least the combined weight of said housing and said arms and thereby support said housing at any height to which it is adjusted, said arms being arranged to be adjusted over a range from a lowermost positioN at which said arms are substantially perpendicular to said columnar member to an uppermost position at which said arms are partially contained within said columnar member and extend upwardly therefrom to form a vertical extension of said columnar member.
 4. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein said columnar member is of rectangular cross-section, one of the narrow walls thereof being open at the upper end thereof to receive said one end of said arms.
 5. A lamp assembly according to claim 4 further including a compression spring extending through at least one of said arms at a point outwardly of the point at which it is pivoted to said columnar member and engaging the inner surfaces of the wide walls of said columnar member for braking said housing at the height to which it is adjusted.
 6. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 further including a flat base having an upstanding post secured thereto, and wherein said columnar member is provided at its lower end with a member having an opening therein for receiving and engaging said post for detachably securing said base to the lower end of said columnar member.
 7. A lamp assembly according to claim 6 wherein said base is of generally trapezoidal shape and said post is secured near the narrower edge thereof, said columnar member being assembled with said base by pushing the lower end of said columnar member downwardly over said post.
 8. A lamp assembly according to claim 6 wherein said post is of circular cross-section and the opening in said member in the lower end of said columnar member is circular whereby said columnar member is adapted for rotation about a vertical axis concentric with the axis of said post.
 9. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 further including a downwardly and outwardly flared reflector pivotally and detachably secured at a point at the lower edge thereof to said U-shaped bracket.
 10. A lamp assembly according to claim 9 wherein said reflector is dimensioned to be supported substantially concentrically with said lamp socket.
 11. A lamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein a portion of the peripheral surface of said reflector is vertically-oriented and of parabolic shape, and the focus of said parabolic surface lies substantially on the vertical axis of said lamp socket.
 12. A lamp assembly according to claim 11 wherein said point of attachment of said reflector to said U-shaped bracket is positioned centrally of the lower edge of said vertically-oriented portion.
 13. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein said housing further contains a switch and dimmer circuitry supported below said lamp socket, and a common control knob for said switch and dimmer circuitry depending from the lower end of said housing.
 14. A lamp assembly according to claim 10 wherein said housing further contains a switch and dimmer circuitry supported below said lamp socket and arranged to define a passage between said housing and said dimmer circuitry for the flow of air, a common control knob for said switch and dimmer circuitry of smaller diameter then the diameter of the lower end of said housing depending from the lower end of said housing and therewith defining an annular gap for the entry of air, and wherein the upper end of said reflector is closed by honeycomb material the cells of which are vertically oriented so as to permit flow of air therethrough, whereby said dimmer circuitry and bulb are adapted to be cooled by air flowing upwardly through said annular gap, over said dimmer circuitry and bulb, and out through the top of said reflector.
 15. A lamp assembly according to claim 14 wherein said honeycomb material is metal and has cell dimensions and a thickness to shield glare from an illuminated bulb in said socket.
 16. A lamp assembly according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said parallel arms is hollow and further including a lamp cord extending through said columnar member and said hollow arm to the pivotal connection of said one arm to said U-shaped Bracket, and a pair of mutually insulated conductive members connected to said lamp socket and to said dimmer circuitry and slidably engaging respective conductors of said lamp cord at the aforesaid pivotal connection.
 17. A lamp assembly comprising, in combination, a hollow columnar member adapted to be supported in a vertical position, a cup-shaped housing containing a lamp socket disposed to receive and position a base-down light bulb in a vertical position, a U-shaped bracket integrally joined to and radially extending from said housing, and a pair of spaced apart parallel arms one end of both of which extend into said columnar member and are pivotally secured to said columnar member near said one end, and each is pivoted at its other end to said U-shaped bracket, said arms being arranged to be adjusted over a range of heights, while maintaining said housing vertically oriented, from a lowermost position at which said arms are substantially perpendicular to said columnar member to an uppermost position at which said arms are partially contained within said columnar member and extend upwardly therefrom to form a vertical extension of said columnar member.
 18. A lamp assembly according to claim 17 further including spring means anchored within said columnar member and connected to the said one end of one of said arms, said spring means being dimensioned and arranged to support said housing at any height within said range to which it is adjusted, and a compression spring extending through at least one of said arms at a point outwardly of the point at which it is pivoted to said columnar member and engaging inner surfaces of said columnar member for braking said housing at the height to which it is adjusted.
 19. A lamp assembly according to claim 17 further including a downwardly and outwardly flared reflector pivotally and detachably secured at the lower edge thereof to said U-shaped bracket.
 20. A lamp assembly according to claim 17 wherein said housing further contains a switch and dimmer circuitry supported below said lamp socket, and a common control knob for said switch and dimmer circuitry depending from the lower end of said housing. 